A bill introduced in the House on May 3 would limit the use of mandatory overtime for nurses to situations in which an official state of emergency is declared by federal, state, or local government.

The Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act (HR 2122 [http://thomas.loc.gov]), introduced by Reps Pete Stark (D, Calif) and Steven LaTourette (R, Ohio), is endorsed by the major nurses' unions and the American Nurses Association.